Who is Luis Campos? Mourinho’s Madrid Scout In Running for United DOF Position

Manchester United are potentially lining up Luis Campos, one of Jose Mourinho’s former scouts, as the club’s new director of football.

Campos has a long history with the United manager, the pair first clashing on the touchline as rivals in 2004, with the then Gil-Vincente boss ending Porto’s 27-game unbeaten run.

Eight years later Mourinho then employed Campos as Real Madrid’s tactical and talent scout.

Five months ago Campos previously held talks with Chelsea about replacing Michael Emenalo as The Blues’ technical director but both club and Campos agreed that a move wouldn’t be the best choice.

Now United want the 53-year-old, who currently works at French club Lille, to take the role of director of football for the first time in the club’s history.

They see Campos, a former Monaco sporting director and somebody who can speak English, suitable for the role in regards to the fact he brought the likes of Joao Moutinho, James Rodriguez and Bernardo Silva into Monaco.

Other shortlisted options are Monchi, current director of football at AS Roma and formerly of Sevilla, and former United goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar.

While Monchi is thought to be difficult to capture given his excellent relationship with Roma it is thought that Van Der Sar could be a more realistic possibility given the previous links established in Manchester are still ripe. The Dutchman was promoted from Ajax’s marketing director to CEO of the club in just four years.

United’s apparent insistence for a new director of football comes after Mourinho reportedly clashed with Chief Executive Ed Woodward over transfer strategy.

The club targeted Harry Maguire and Toby Alderweireld in their bid for centre-back reinforcements but neither was signed by the new transfer deadline of August 5.

Mourinho has targeted that position due to last year’s repeated injuries to Eric Bailly, added to the fact it has taken longer than previously thought for Victor Lindelof to settle into the team.

Only Fred, Diego Dalot and Lee Grant were brought into Old Trafford, with Liverpool, Fulham and Everton totalling a higher net spend than that of the Manchetser club.

United face Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend after securing a narrow 2-1 victory of Leicester City in their first game of the new Premier League season.

The club will have to travel to the Etihad Stadium, Anfield and Stamford Bridge in the league before the transfer window opens again in the new year.